I work at a Kenworth dealer and have access to some seriously big *** intercoolers. Yes, I know they're too tall to fit, but they're 25" wide, and you can cut some rows off to make them shorter height wise. End tanks wouldn't be hard to fab up at all, so that's not really an issue. They're 2 5/8" thick, 24 3/4" wide, 27" tall, but can be cut down to any height.

The rows are 1/4" tall, and there is 3/8" between the rows. I didn't get a chance to take a pic of the end of the core, but the rows are pretty densely packed with turbulators. I plan on buying an entire core in late February and will do some manometer tests on a ten row section, which will be approximately 7.25" tall.

I'm chosing ten rows to start out with because ten rows will give me just a hair over the same cross sectional area as a 2" charge pipe.







*edit- I know they look dirty. They are. These are core returns. Most have cracked end tanks, and that's why they're being returned. But put the rice boy bling bling goggles down for a sec and understand that they clean up very easily and could be an excellent source of a cheap intercooler (how about $300 for a Greddy Type 24- sized core with end tanks?) that may flow very well.


[Modified by Loco Honkey, 6:37 PM 1/26/2003]

 

im doing the same thing right now with a Ford powerstroke intercooler, i work at a frieghtliner dealership and have thought about doing the same thing...

 

put some custom end tanks on that thing and itll suport alot of boost. its pretty thick. wow

 

i thought it was a powerstroke,but mine is almost 3 inches thick,i know its cut down from another intercooler that is 30 inches wide.


[Modified by civictypenos, 6:04 PM 1/26/2003]

 

I plan on it. When I get one and weld up some end tanks, I'll do some manometer tests and post the results. If they're good, I may sell Honda- sized ICs with end tanks for about $300. And of course, I'll pressure test 'em to 30 PSI.

A little info about big rig turbos...
They run upwards of 60 PSI, and do this almost continuously for 250,000- 300,000 miles.
Until about three years ago, wastegates weren't used. At all. Think about the boost spikes...
The turbos themselves have 5" turbine exducers, 6" compressor inducers, and 4.5" compressor exducers. AR ratios are typically 2.07 for the turbine and 2.18 for the compressor.
Turbocharger weight is right around 45 lbs.

 

sounds like a good idea. i'll def. get one for my crx..since the wings west rs kit have a big big mouth and that would fit perfectly

Jeff-

 

I'm a big anti-advocate of the Powerstroke IC. It's thin thin thin and has bad problems with restriction aka boost drop across it. Overblownteg could read you the riot act, as well as flow figures, about the PSIC. He has one, and wishes he'd spent his money elsewhere.

Here's a picture of the one fitted to Overblownteg's junkyard 5.0 TT, note how skinny it is:



If you're going to cut one down... please... stack two of them together to make a double core IC. Stock thickness is not acceptable.

As far as high boost + no wastgate on a diesel turbo... you can't blow up a diesel with high boost. You can melt one if you give it too much fuel. They are a different setup from gas engines, pretty crazy to play with.

 

Here's another pic of one from my webspace. Look closely at how thin the core is in comparison to the 3" inlets.



I know size isn't flow, but this is visibly restrictive.

 

I'm not working with a Powerstroke IC. You think 2 5/8" is too thin?

 

Cummins Turbo Diesel here

 

lazerus, they stuck a restrictive IC onto the OEM 7.3 liter PS. It doesn't mean it doesn't work, it just means you aren't as efficient as someone interested in building a tuner car would be interested in. Familiarize yourself with what some of the Ford guys are doing... they are the ones who originally started stuffing them in the front end of Mustangs and they are the ones complaining about it.

The Volvo IC's flow better proportional to size than the PSIC, you are being misleading about their efficiency.

Check out www.turboford.org, they have a fairly good grasp of using OEM IC's, unlike the Honda community which is 90% focused on brand names.

 

Strange, the first one I know of being used went into a Mustang SVO, which runs the 2.3 turbo. Turboford.org is mostly 2.3T owners.

Now you go from saying the IC in a V8 diesel is plenty big to saying the restriction which you previously denied existing is in the endtanks. Are you trying to argue a point, or just out-argue me? I'm getting the impression this is a bit of a personal attack... if I'm wrong, please tell me.

I'm all for a good debate on the merits of the PSIC, as all sides see it, and forgive me if I've mistaken your intent in this matter.

 

Ah, so it is personal.

Note where it says I am located at to the left of my H-T posts.

Note where www.redpepperracing.com is located at.

If you must personally attack me, you could at least acquaint yourself with who and what I am first.




[Modified by J. Davis, 4:06 PM 1/26/2003]

 

I used the word "proportion" when I said that, in which case I would be correct. have you seen the (ghetto) flow comparison of the Volvo IC done by the Dodgegarage? :/

Why don't we just step away from this thread for a while. I'll netsearch some stuff, you do the same, and we'll try back in a couple hours, or in the morning and see where a tech discussion leads us on this subject, after tempers have cooled a bit.


[Modified by J. Davis, 4:13 PM 1/26/2003]

 

Hell yeah, I'm interested. Can I steal them (with credit) for my OEM IC harem? www.redpepperracing.com/gallery/album33

 

Yes.

I originally test fired my junkyard turbo rig job CRX not ten feet from Overblownteg's Mustang, pictured above.

 

Ffft... I dunno how Todd would go for that.

"Hey, Todd, where's your sawzall? No, it's top secret, can't tell you why... now be a good boy and turn around..."

I've got skinny whiteboy disease, Todd doesn't. I gotta get through this life, bro.

I can see where flow distribution across the OEM endtanks sucks goat ****, but it's still an awfully thin core. Can you provide some ghetto vacuum cleaner + manometer flow testings of your finished product compared to the OEM PSIC, or better yet one of the IC's tested on the Dodgegarage (will post link later for those unfamiliar) like the Volvo, Saab, or DSM SMIC so it gives a better frame of referrence?

I've got no problem being wrong, I'd just like to have proof that I am.




[Modified by J. Davis, 4:41 PM 1/26/2003]

 

http://www.geocities.com/jamesbanning/tech_info/ford_ic/

there is some info, with the stock end tanks on the buick GN's show some good numbers and efficiency for the powerstroke, they seem to work good, and i see no reason why someone with the will and the means, could hack some semi truck intercoolers up, and make them work for honda applications.


[Modified by lazerus, 5:38 PM 1/26/2003]

 

Thanks for hijacking my thread, guys. So again, I ask... Is 2 5/8" too thin? What's thick enough, and why?

 

i took care of the mess i made. sorry peeps.

Another thing to look it, is cut one of the end tanks off, and compare it to other core designs like used on spearco/greddy/apexi etc. and see how it looks.

Brad

Here is something else to peek at.

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/turbo/intercooler.html


[Modified by lazerus, 5:44 PM 1/26/2003]

 

Well, not to bring the PSIC discussion back (until lazerus and I digest some more info), but your Kenworth unit is 5/8" thicker than the PSIC. It should be a good unit.

If lazerus is right about the PSIC, and there isn't any wierd compromising situation associated with the Kenworth unit, then it's probably a little better than good.

 

the kenworth intercooler is only an 1/8th of an inch thicker than the ford...

j davis, the ford is not 2 inches thick it is 2.5

 

dmotoguy, the link lazerus posted has it listed as both 2 and 2.5 thick. I was always told it was a thin core. Given the fact there are two PSICs, mayhap one of the designs is the crappy one?

Anyone with a PSIC (metal and/or plastic end tanks), tape measure, and digicam?

 

*lifts one eyebrow* maybe start a new thread?

 

ive put 2ford diesel i/c's together and have made them one!
dimensions..
(not including endtanks)
are 16x4x4.. so together they are 16x8x4.
not to sure on what they came from exactly(they are new though)